Across the Counter
Sir: Wonderful, wonderful Macy's of Herald Square! As an Okie, I had to go to New York's Macy's to see my first (and only) living kangaroo (complete with baby in pouch, on display in the window) and my first (and only) man-eating piranha. It's a great store!
WILLIAM P. STERNE
Tulsa, Okla.
Sir:
As a former New Yorker, the only thing I miss in that maze of people, subways and cars is Macy's. The best place to spend a rainy Saturday was always in the Herald Square store, where I never left without at least one overflowing shopping bag stuffed with goodies.
(MRS.) MARY E. KLEIN
Hollywood
Sir:
Macy's Mr. Straus should not play the part of the indignant customer, but the part of the overburdened salesman, who is usually expected to do the work of three people for the salary of one. Salespeople no longer have time to cater to the individual customer, and the customer knows this. What could Mr. Straus do without his poorly paid 4,828 salespeople?
JOHN STRAUSS
Berkeley, Calif.
Sir:
I was greatly relieved to read your article "The Consumer Economy," because since Christmas morning, I have had the disturbing delusion that I was supporting the U.S. economy all by myself.
D.W. BOVET
Marion, N.Y.
Man of the Year--& Beyond
Sir:
If Johnson manages to bridge the gap between political genius and international statesmanship, it might enable the U.S. to regain and keep world leadership.
EDWARD D. ADLER
New York City
Sir:
As college students, we feel that your favorable Johnson bag deserves a zero-cool ace in better than best informative writing. Fortunately, you recognize that the Administration has tubed the Viet Nam skirmish because of an inability to control R.F.ing Buddhists and Viet Cong. Bitchin insight.
GEORGE B. STEVENS
STEPHEN B. BROWN
University of Oregon
Eugene, Ore.
Sir:
I have come to the conclusion that the only problems that Johnson has not offered to solve for the American people are those dealing with resurrection and eternal life. In view of this fact, perhaps he should appoint a few theologians to help incorporate these ideas into the master plan.
FRANK ALLEN TEGGE
Evanston, Ill.
Fight, or Quit?
Sir: It was the same principle of isolation or, as Mr. Lippmann puts it, "the study of our vital interests," [Jan. 8] that history has blamed for the outbreak of World War II. If we had stepped in when Japan took over Manchuria, if we had said something when Hitler marched into the Rhineland, if we had done something when Hitler was allowed to take the Sudetenland, if, if, if--and now, if we let the Communists take Viet Nam, what will history say about us then?
ROSANNE RICH
Flushing, N.Y.
Sir: Senator Richard Russell's statement, "We made a terrible mistake getting involved in Viet Nam," brings to mind recent cases of rape and murder in New York and other cities where no one helped the victims for fear of becoming "involved." Americans must remember that the U.S., as the most powerful nation in the free world today, is the chief opposition to Communism. But what quicker way to lose to this menace than by getting out? Quitters never win and winners never quit!
LAURENCE CONNOLLY JR.
Boston
Sir:
I cannot understand our present situation in Viet Nam. It seems that our military force over there is like the mythical Sisyphus, fated forever to push a boulder up the mountain only to have it slip away and roll to the bottom. The 35,000 Americans over there are too many to make peace and not enough to make war. It has been a pleasant interlude since the Korean War ended, but has the time come to pay the price? The price, I think, is a hell of a lot of dead Americans.
PHILLIP HARNEY
Danielson, Conn.
Sir:
You described how "Rangers, backed by air support that sowed the field with some 288,000 bullets, 4,000 20-mm. cannon shells, 1,552 rockets and 37,000 lbs of bombs, scattered the Red nest. At least 87 [out of 1,500] Viet Cong were killed" At that rate, to kill one enemy took 3,310 bullets, 46 20-mm. cannon shells, 18 rockets and 425 lbs. of bombs. Let's quit!
THOMAS C. MORAN
Pittsburgh
Sir:
The medical care that you identified as being given to the people of Quinhon in South Viet Nam [Dec. 25] by "American Franciscan Sisters" is actually the work of the Medical Mission Sisters, an American sisterhood.
SISTER M. PIERRE
Medical Mission Sisters
Philadelphia
Bringing Up Father
Sir: Dammit. I don't blame Malaysia. If we were fighting for our lives and one of our "closest allies" was giving $10 million a year to our most dangerous enemy [Jan. 8], I'd quit and join the Foreign Legion. Can you imagine Russia giving aid to South Viet Nam? Not a chance. We have to pick our friends and our enemies. We can't be everybody's Great White Father. Countries like Nigeria and Liberia we can support, but this business of sending supplies to Indonesia and Algeria and Ghana and Egypt has got to stop.
JOHN WELLS
Wilmington, Del.
Courage in South Africa
Sir:
As a young South African at present visiting in the U.S., I can't help being aware of the criticism directed at South Africa from so many parts of the world. However, your article on Laurence Gandar and the Rand Daily Mail [Jan. 8] has reminded people that not all the whites in South Africa support the policies of apartheid. As long as South Africa has people like Mr. Gandar, I believe there is still hope for my country.
MIKE CORDES
Jackson, Ky.
Sir:
Your article on Laurence Gandar is one-sided in the extreme. You have taken what Gandar said as fact because you are anxious to believe any and every voice of opposition to our government. I particularly take exception to your statement that we are an intolerant land and people. Nothing could be farther from the truth. The Rand Daily Mail lost circulation because of its penchant for losing sight of the truth. It is one of the most hated papers in South Africa.
J. CLARKE
Natal, South Africa
Battered Children
Sir: Surely the Simbas in the Congo, whom we condemn as "savage" and "inhuman," are no more savage or inhuman than those parents who brutalize their own flesh and blood [Jan. 8]. Such parents should be punished as the criminals that they really are, and furthermore, they should be sterilized!
(MRS.) EILEEN HOBSON
Asbestos, Quebec
Sir:
The "battered-child syndrome" is primarily an adult problem, with the syndrome a sign of urgent need for psychiatric help for the parents. What is characteristic here is abnormal parental rage. I have had three experiences with the 'battered-child syndrome." All three involved otherwise "good parents" who succumbed to a breaking-point rage when under unbearable stress. In all three cases I had the Baltimore city police summoned to me directly. Properly pre-informed, the policemen were marvelous and gave the parents a maximum realization of what they had done. In two of the cases, after I was assured that the parents felt remorse and would seek medical help, no charges were made, at my request.
ANTHONY J. YOUNG, M.D.
Baltimore
Sir:
Your article battered my name. It has been a long, lonely fight to preserve the spelling of Monrad, although your spelling, Conrad, is clearly superior to Moonrad, Minrat, or Morod.
MONRAD G. PAULSEN
Professor of Law
Columbia University
New York City
Abolished
Sir:
You wrote, "Colombian law still prevents a married woman--separated or not--from leaving the country without her husband's written permission" [Jan. 8]. The law in reference was abolished several years ago.
ERNESTO CARO
Consul General of Colombia
New York City
T. S. Eliot
Sir:
The literary world's sorrow at the demise of T. S. Eliot has been temporarily assuaged by your fitting tribute [Jan. 15].
ARLENE DEE ASBELL
Baltimore
Sir:
Along with others of your readers, there are TIMES that infuriate me. Yet, as a long-since misplaced student of English literature, I read your tribute to an old hero, T. S. Eliot, and realize that for me, at least, you have distilled this remarkable man of our time, his work and his faith as no other critic has done or is likely to do.
CHARLES F. BUSHONG
St. Louis
Wrong Wheels
Sir:
In the article "Highballing on New Wheels" [Jan. 15], you err in stating that the Flexi-Van is a "railroad car." When traveling over the highway, the Flexi-Van is fitted with highway running gear and is almost indistinguishable from a regular trailer. But when traveling by rail, the Flexi-Van is placed on special flatcars, two vans to a car.
JOHN T. McCuLLOUGH
Distribution Age
Philadelphia
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